Borah Silver Movies

Kojak (Telly Savalas) begins his search for the murderer of a womanizing Wall Street lawyer. What he doesn't know is that the perp is one of his own detectives, Nick Ferro (Hector Elizondo). Having committed the crime after discovering that his own wife (Barbara Rhoades) was one of the victim's lovers, Ferro cunningly sets up an airtight alibi--and even arranges to join the investigation team. Inevitably, Kojak's instincts kick in and he deduces that something is amiss...while Ferro desperately tries to halt the steady strem of evidence that is flowing inexorably in his direction. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

After a "hit" on mob boss Mike Tomasso (Art Metrano) fails, Kojak (Telly Savalas) begins receiving anonymous tips that Tomasso's chief rival Serafin (Anthony Charnota) ordered the killing. But as the case progresses, Kojak can't help suspecting that those tips are leading him down the proverbial garden path. Roger Robinson makes his first series appearance as versatile undercover cop Gil Weaver. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Diagnosed with inoperable stomach cancer, Detective Ben Fiore (Harry Guardino) decides to take care of some unfinished business before cashing in his chips. With nothing to lose, Fiore begins an intensive manhunt for the killer of his partner Eddie Ryan (Jed Allen)--and at the same time he reveals his long-suppressed ardor for Eddie's widow Ellen (Joanne Linville). Despite the dying detective's effort to hide his illness from everyone, Lt. Kojak (Telly Savalas) senses that there's something very strange going on, especially considering that the late Eddie Ryan was frankly not worthy of Fiore's intense loyalty. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In one of his occasional undercover assignments, Kojak (Telly Savalas) poses as a chemist. It's all part of a plan to flush out a gang of crooks who have stolen a valuable shipment of morphine in order to sell it back to the rightful owners for an exorbitant price. Naturally, Kojak pretends to be corruptible enough to attract the crooks' attention--a dangerous game which could cost him his life at any moment. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In his efforts to capture a narcotics thief who has killed a cop, Kojak (Telly Savalas) clashes with Federal agents who want the fugitive for themselves. What follows is a jurisdictional turf battle, with neither side yielding an inch. Finally, Kojak decides to defy both the Feds and his own superiors, and launch a personal pursuit of the killer--a chase that leads the detective all the way to California. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Things get personal for Lt. Kojak (Telly Savalas) when an undercover cop is found murdered, gangland style. Figuratively tossing the rule book out the window, Kojak sets his sights on bringing elusive crime boss Franco "Six Bits" Donatello (Harold J. Stone) to justice. Actress Diana Hyland, whose stellar career was tragically cut short by cancer one year after "A Grave Too Soon" first aired on March 7, 1976, plays a key role in this final episode of Kojak's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Paul Schrader's directorial debut examines the trials of Detroit autoworkers living at the mercy of a heartless corporation and a corrupt union. Surviving from paycheck to paycheck, Checker Cab assembly linemen Zeke (Richard Pryor), Jerry (Harvey Keitel), and Smokey (Yaphet Kotto) scrape by and take pleasure in a few rounds of beer or bowling (and occasional illicit amusements). But when their money troubles pile up, Jerry and Smokey join Zeke in a desperate plan to steal cash from their local union office. Along with a piddling $600, they unexpectedly swipe evidence of union corruption. Deciding to use it for blackmail, the men discover instead how powerfully malevolent the union can be in a system that counts on petty divisiveness to keep the larger power structure intact. Inspired by stories of real-life disillusionment, Schrader and his brother/co-writer Leonard Schrader took on politically difficult issues of race and corporate labor, infusing the indictment of unions with a suggestion of post-Watergate paranoia about forces beyond the union that keep workers in their place. From the opening sequence of the assembly line to the final evocative freeze-frame, Schrader maintains an atmosphere of gritty realism, with the lead trio lending low-key dramatic force to a situation beyond their control. Too downbeat for a late '70s audience increasingly drawn to happier fare, Blue Collar flopped, yet it did earn Schrader critical accolades. Although he has reportedly since disowned the film, Blue Collar remains one of Schrader's best works, with Zeke and Jerry powered by the same sense of simmering frustration that would explode so effectively in Affliction two decades later. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

When first telecast on April 8, 1980, this made-for-TV movie was titled Kenny Rogers as The Gambler. Jim Byrnes' teleplay is loosely inspired by Rogers' Grammy award-winning song. Rogers plays high-rolling gambler Brady Hawkes, who is en route from El Paso to Yuma to see the son he never knew. Along the way, Hawkes befriends Billy Montana (Bruce Boxleitner), feckless Eastern tinhorn. The twosome comes to the aid of reformed "lady of the evening" Jennie Reed (Lee Purcell), who is pursued by an unprincipled train baron. At the end, Brynes must stand up to his son's cruel stepfather (Clu Gulager). A huge ratings success, The Gambler inspired four sequels over the next two decades. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this biting comedy satirizing Hollywood cynicism from writer-director Blake Edwards, Felix Farmer (Richard Mulligan) is a motion picture director whose career is on the skids. Having just completed a family musical that is sure to be a $30 million flop, Felix knows that his days are numbered and tries unsuccessfully to commit suicide. When he recovers, Felix suddenly has a brainstorm and hatches a scheme to buy the film back from his studio and lens new scenes that will turn it into a pornographic movie with big stars, a sure-fire box office winner. In order to pull it off, he'll need to convince his female lead and wife, Sally Miles (Julie Andrews, not coincidentally the director's real-life wife) to defy her wholesome, squeaky-clean public image by baring her breasts on film. S.O.B. (1981) was the final film of legendary actor William Holden. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Quincy (Jack Klugman) recognizes elderly murder victim Violet Winston (Louise Fitch) as a onetime vaudeville headliner, and the partner of long-retired comedian Morris Perlmutter (Keenan Wynn). The only witness to the killing is Violet's sister Eugenia (Rosemary DeCamp), who is handicapped by a variety of debilitating infirmaries. Elsewhere, the aforementioned Perlmutter prepares to make a comeback on live TV, only to begin suffering the early stages of senility. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi